How to get the Nina Proudman makeup look

Want to look as fresh and glowy as Offspring’s Nina Proudman? Without getting pregnant?

The Nina Proudman makeup look is really quite a simple one.

It’s the no-makeup-makeup look that can be translated for most women’s lifestyle and worn every day.

This is a look clearly suited to pale-skinned, blonde-haired women but it’s also possible for brunettes and olive skin.

Obviously, starting with a blank canvas of luminous skin like that of Asher Keddie does help but if genetics are not on your side, stick with me while we fake it till we make it.

Key products

1. Light-reflecting foundation and powder. This is your luminescent base. The foundation doesn’t have to be sheer but it does need a light-reflecting formulation. Imagine thousands of minuscule mirrors all working to reflect light away from your face, resulting in a money-CAN-buy glow.

2. Concealer. You know to apply your concealer after your foundation, don’t you? That way you don’t actually need as much and only apply as needed. For me, I still need A LOT. And have done since the arrival of my first child almost 18 years ago.

3. Under-eye illuminator. Some lucky people only need this to brighten up this region of their face. Me, it’s like icing on a cupcake – essential. I apply it tribal-like in a strip across the top of my cheekbone under my eye and then blend with my fingers. It just visually lifts this whole area immediately.

5. Light bronzer. Remember this tip about where to apply bronzer? Well, it’s time to follow it to the tee. Find a shade that suits your skin tone – for me it’s very much like Nina, something light and glowy.

7. Mushroom/nude/pink eye colour. On screen it looks like Nina wears one colour but it’s really a blend of at least three. Work from a palette of nudes to suit your eye colour, applying a vanilla colour as a base, a darker colour across the lids and blend, blend, blend.

8. Light brown eyebrow pencil. Blonde brows need defining without looking like they’ve been marked on with a felt-tip pen. Define with a colour slightly darker than your brow and then brush upwards and out.

The key to pulling off this look is the overall luminosity of the skin. Luminescent skin does start with a good diet. By all means do aim to feed it with good, whole foods and lots of water, however, it’s kind of comforting to know that even if we don’t have youth and a pious lifestyle on our side there are little “helping hands” out there to help us get a Nina Proudman glow on when we might be feeling anything but glowy.

Is this a makeup look you could try? What’s your secret to getting your glow on?

I love, love this post. I don’t normally relate to Nina Proudman style and I’ve never watched Offspring. But after reading this yesterday, I watched Offspring last night, intently. I am not 100% sure on what was happening in the story but I paid very close attention to clothes and makeup. Because I have blonde hair and blue eyes and I am ready to learn some softer makeup techniques. I learned so much from this post and I used the links to head off to Priceline and stock up on a few things. I have never used a eyebrow pencil before but now I am waiting for one to arrive in the post. I also took the opportunity to have a hard look at all the lipsticks I have been hanging onto. Then I threw out about half of my lipsticks. Thank you, Nikki. I learn so much from you.

http://www.stylingyou.com.au/ Nikki | Styling You

Oh thanks so much – glad it was of use to you. Let me know how you go with the products!

Julie

Oh isn’t her skin amazing? I’m so lazy that I only use my BB cream and a lippy most days…I own a nice peachy blush and a mascara but hardly ever go the extra mile, and now that I’m forty-is-the-new-thirty 😉 I think I probably should! Can you apply an under-eye illuminator over BB cream if you don’t do foundation? And can you recommend a mascara that won’t make me look “too-done”? Bit of a weird request I know, but I have long dark lashes and I wish I could find a mascara which just separates and ‘lifts’ them but doesn’t make me look like I have coated it on! Thanks Nikki xx

Thanks Nikki, yes perhaps it is time I revisited clear mascaras, I have an old one I use on my unruly eyebrows sometimes! Thanks for the link xx

http://www.styleunearthed.com/ Sarah – Style Unearthed

I think I need some under eye illuminator! That would kick tired eyes in the butt. Asher always looks gorgeous – genetics have definitely been kind to her

http://www.stylingyou.com.au/ Nikki | Styling You

They have been and she obviously cares for her skin too. And once you’ve illuminated your under eyes, you’ll never go back!

http://www.jfgibson.com.au/ Jodi Gibson

Under eye illuminator? Me thinks I need to get me some!

http://www.stylingyou.com.au/ Nikki | Styling You

I’m never without … instant lift and glow!

Cilla

Thanks Nikki!

http://www.stylingyou.com.au/ Nikki | Styling You

You’re very welcome!

Adrienne

I always glaze over a little when reading posts like this… in confusion. So I figure it’s high time to ask a question: How does one go about learning about makeup use and application from scratch? My mom doesn’t wear makeup and typically I don’t either… which I’m totally comfortable with in daily life. But if I want to get fancy I am usually quite insecure about what I’m doing since I never learned when I was a teenager. Thanks!

http://www.stylingyou.com.au/ Nikki | Styling You

I didn’t learn as a teenager either Adrienne! In my late 30s I had my first makeup lesson from a makeup artist and was kicking myself why I hadn’t done it sooner. It was a lesson where we had to actually do the application so that really helped. Rather than someone just applying our makeup. If you can track someone down in your area who can do that then that’s my recommendation to you.

Leah_loves

There is SO much information online Adrienne, including lots of tutorials on YouTube and blogs. Even just reading a bunch of makeup blogs will help. You will pick up little tips here and there that make a big difference. Also, if you read magazines, don’t skip over the beauty section!

Leah_loves

I think some of the top tips are:
– Foundation does not go ALL OVER your face. Only apply where it is needed, usually down the center of your face, and blend outwards with your preferred tool.
– Don’t conceal your entire under eye area, only the darkest parts. Consider this – If you conceal the whole area, then the darkest parts will STLL BE the darkest parts!
– Bronzer does not go all over your face. Consider where the sun hits your face (usually around your hairline, just under your cheeks and along your jawline in the shape of a 3), and apply lightly there. Blend! Don’t forget to blend it into your neck so your face and neck are the same colour.

– Bronzer is not compulsory, but blush is!

– Curl your eyelashes before applying mascara
-If attempting to apply liquid eyeliner, don’t do the line in one go. Just do small bits at a time and join them up as you go. Always rest your elbow on a hard surface while you are doing it.

Thanks Leah … most of those tips have been covered here on my blog over the past 5 years.

Mindy Roestenburg

I have never been one to wear a lot of makeup so I am a huge fan of the natural look. Still me but a polished version. Thanks for all the product suggestions I will be checking some of them out for sure. I am in need of a lipstick update and I think that Nars lip pencil will be finding it’s way onto my bathroom bench very soon

http://www.stylingyou.com.au/ Nikki | Styling You

The disappointing thing is that the no-makeup makeup look actually requires a lot of makeup 😉

Lisa Mckenzie

Good tips Nikki I love my Smashbox Atificial Light and as the name suggests puts little bits of glow on your face,and I really agree about the brows I discovered about 2 years ago that brow powder makes such a difference ,mine aren’t blonde but they are fair and getting fairer even though I tint them and they are sparse always have been ,so when I discovered brow powder a few years ago I never can go without it.I am always jealous of people with good brows,Yes I love a fresh natural makeup look,very pretty!

http://www.stylingyou.com.au/ Nikki | Styling You

Smashbox is a genius makeup range because it really was created with photographic models in mind … so we can work with the best that we’ve got!